Global Head of Security & Resilience (Copy) (Copy)

We are seeking an accomplished senior leader to take responsibility for a global Security and Resilience function within a large, complex, international organisation. This is an opportunity to shape a strategically important global function at a time when geopolitical uncertainty, operational interdependencies and emerging threats are placing greater emphasis on enterprise resilience.

This is a brand-new high-impact leadership position combining strategic direction with operational accountability. The successful candidate will shape an integrated approach to enterprise security, business continuity, crisis preparedness and organisational resilience, ensuring the business can anticipate, respond to and recover from significant disruption.

The position calls for more than traditional security leadership. It requires a business-oriented executive who can connect security, continuity and crisis management into an integrated capability that protects critical operations and supports long-term organisational performance. The post-holder will have the scope to influence both strategic direction and operational execution, working closely with senior decision-makers while leading a specialist international team

The role requires an individual who can operate confidently at executive level while remaining closely connected to operational realities. It offers the opportunity to influence enterprise-wide decision-making, strengthen organisational preparedness and lead a specialist global function through its next phase of development.

The Role

The position carries responsibility for developing a cohesive global framework while enabling effective execution through regional and local teams. The successful candidate will work across a decentralised, matrixed organisation, building alignment among senior stakeholders with diverse operational and commercial priorities.

A central objective will be to advance the organisation`s resilience capabilities beyond traditional risk management and business continuity planning, establishing a more proactive, integrated approach to anticipating and managing complex threats.

The role also carries significant operational accountability, including leadership during major incidents and crises requiring rapid assessment, sound judgement and coordinated executive decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Engagement & Enterprise Influence

·        Build trusted relationships with senior executives and functional leaders across the organisation.

·        Provide clear, balanced and actionable advice on complex security and resilience matters.

·        Influence strategic decisions through sound judgement, commercial understanding and the ability to connect risk considerations to business outcomes.

·        Navigate a decentralised operating model, achieving alignment through collaboration and credibility rather than reliance on formal authority.

·        Represent the function in senior governance forums and cross-functional initiatives.

·        Communicate effectively with stakeholders ranging from operational teams to executive leadership.

Enterprise Strategy & Organisational Resilience

·        Define and implement a global strategy for security, resilience and emergency management, aligned with wider business priorities and enterprise risk considerations.

·        Establish a coherent framework connecting security, business continuity, crisis management and longer-term organisational resilience.

·        Identify emerging threats, vulnerabilities and dependencies that could materially affect people, operations, critical infrastructure and business continuity.

·        Develop the organisation`s ability to anticipate disruption, adapt to changing conditions and maintain essential activities during periods of uncertainty.

·        Translate complex risk information into clear strategic recommendations for executive leadership.

·        Drive continuous improvement in global policies, standards, governance and assurance processes.

Crisis & Emergency Management

·        Provide senior leadership and direction during significant security incidents, emergencies and enterprise-level crises.

·        Ensure robust crisis management structures, escalation procedures and decision-making protocols are in place across the organisation.

·        Coordinate cross-functional responses to complex incidents involving multiple locations, business units or external stakeholders.

·        Lead the development and testing of crisis preparedness programmes, including simulations, exercises and lessons-learned reviews.

·        Act as a trusted adviser to senior executives during time-critical, high-pressure situations.

·        Promote a culture of preparedness, accountability and effective decision-making under uncertainty.

Business Continuity & Operational Resilience

·        Oversee the global business continuity management framework, ensuring consistency, effectiveness and alignment with business-critical priorities.

·        Strengthen the organisation`s understanding of critical processes, operational interdependencies and potential points of failure.

·        Work with business leaders to develop practical continuity and recovery capabilities across functions and geographies.

·        Support strategic planning for major disruptions affecting supply chains, infrastructure, people, technology or operational delivery.

·        Advance the integration of business continuity into broader enterprise resilience planning.

·        Establish meaningful measures of preparedness, performance and organisational maturity.

Global Security & Intelligence

·        Provide strategic oversight of corporate security operations and related risk management activities across a global footprint.

·        Establish appropriate global security standards while recognising regional and local operating requirements.

·        Oversee security risk assessment, incident management and specialist investigation capabilities.

·        Strengthen intelligence gathering and analysis to support proactive identification of geopolitical, physical and emerging security threats.

·        Ensure appropriate frameworks are in place for travel security, executive security support and the protection of people, assets and operations.

·        Maintain effective relationships with relevant external authorities, specialist advisers and security partners.

Global Leadership & Capability Development

·        Lead, develop and inspire a specialist international team, fostering high performance, accountability and collaboration.

·        Set clear strategic priorities and ensure effective delivery across global, regional and local structures.

·        Develop leadership capability, succession planning and specialist expertise within the function.

·        Promote an inclusive, pragmatic and solutions-oriented culture.

·        Build strong partnerships across functions, ensuring security and resilience are recognised as business enablers.

·        Evaluate and evolve the operating model, resources and capabilities required to meet changing organisational needs.

Candidate Profile

We are interested in speaking with established senior leaders who bring a compelling combination of strategic perspective, operational experience and executive-level influence.

Experience & Expertise

·        Significant senior leadership experience in corporate security, organisational resilience, crisis management, business continuity or closely related disciplines.

·        Proven experience operating across complex, international and matrixed organisations.

·        Demonstrated ability to develop and implement global strategies while maintaining operational effectiveness.

·        Substantial experience managing major incidents, crises or other high-consequence situations.

·        Strong understanding of enterprise risk, business continuity, security governance and emerging global threats.

·        Experience engaging with executive leadership and influencing decisions at the highest organisational levels.

·        A track record of leading geographically dispersed, multidisciplinary teams.

·        The ability to translate specialist security and resilience expertise into commercially relevant business advice.

Experience gained in a highly regulated, operationally complex or business-critical environment would be advantageous. However, candidates will be assessed primarily on the relevance and depth of their leadership experience rather than on a particular industry background.

Leadership Style & Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will combine authority and credibility with humility, emotional intelligence and a collaborative leadership approach.

They will demonstrate:

·        Strategic judgement: The ability to see beyond immediate threats and develop a longer-term view of enterprise resilience.

·        Composure under pressure: Calm, decisive and credible leadership when navigating ambiguity, disruption and high-stakes situations.

·        Executive presence: The confidence and communication skills to engage senior stakeholders and provide trusted counsel.

·        Business acumen: A strong understanding of organisational priorities and the ability to balance risk, operational requirements and strategic objectives.

·        Collaborative influence: The ability to build consensus and drive progress across complex structures without depending solely on formal authority.

·        Pragmatism: A solutions-focused mindset that balances appropriate governance with operational effectiveness.

·        Adaptability: Intellectual curiosity, learning agility and an openness to new approaches and evolving threats.

·        People leadership: A commitment to developing teams, empowering specialists and building sustainable organisational capability.

Location & Travel

The role is based in Basel, Switzerland, with an international remit and regular engagement across global operations.

Approximately 20% international travel is anticipated.

A meaningful on-site presence is expected, reflecting the seniority of the position and the importance of close collaboration with executive stakeholders. Relocation support may be available, subject to individual circumstances.